Glenna Sipe latest to announce retirement

Emmet County will undergo a minor changing of the guard this fall, when for the first time in decades no major elected county officer will seek re-election.

Glenna Sipe, the county's register of deeds, on Monday joined county clerk Irene Granger and prosecuting attorney Bob Engel, who had previously announced their decision not to run again.

Sipe, who has been county register of deeds for four terms - almost 16 years - said she will support her deputy Michele Stine in her campaign for the position.

Sheriff Pete Wallin and county treasurer Marilyn May, both appointed by the county's selection committee a year and a half ago to fill vacancies in the positions, confirmed Monday they will seek election in their own right this year.

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Wallin was appointed sheriff after Jeff Bodzick died in office in June 2002, and May was appointed to fill the term of her predecessor, Ann Payne, who resigned a month later.

Stine said she looked forward to running for the register's position, noting that people in subordinate positions in the county had waited for a long time for their superiors to retire.

Granger said no one had yet filed papers to run for any county position, although would-be candidates have until 4 p.m. on May 11 to do so.

Granger said a number of people had indicated they will be filing, including three for prosecutor, two for county clerk, and one for register of deeds. But none will be officially registered as candidates until they have filed papers, petitions and affidavits of identity, she said.

All seven county commissioner positions will also be up for election this year, but Granger noted that commissioners, although elected county officials, are not county officers.

The county's three judges - Circuit Judge Charles Johnson, District Judge Richard May, (no relation to county treasurer May); and Probate Judge Fred Mulhauser - remain in office through December 2006, the end of their six-year terms.

Sipe, 64, who will have served 16 years as register of deeds when her fourth term expires in December, has been with the county 36 years as register of deeds, deputy register and clerk in the register of deeds office. She started with the county in the treasurer's office in the old court house.

"I've been here long enough," Sipe said in an interview Monday, adding that her husband Larry, a truck driver, will retire at the same time she does.

"I've enjoyed being register of deeds very much. It's been fun meeting all the people. I like doing the work," said Sipe, a native of Petoskey who found work with the county after graduating from high school.

Sipe said the next milestone for her office will be when its data goes live on the county Web site, http://www.co.emmet.mi.us on March 8.

"People will be able to look up all deeds in the county, although they will not be able to print them," she said. "That has yet to be worked out."

The Sipes, who live in Resort Township, have seven grandchildren.

"They keep us busy," Sipe said, adding that after their retirement she and Larry plan to do some traveling.

Stine, Sipe's deputy, moved to Emmet County in 1986 with her husband, David, and their two daughters, Andrea and Heather. She attended high school and trade school in Lapeer County, and earned certificates in accounting and as a legal secretary.

Stine, who has served as chief deputy register of deeds since 1988, believes she is well qualified to serve in the top position.

"Our daily workflow has nearly tripled in the last 15 years," she said. "I have been instrumental in working toward computerization of our records."

"It's a most exciting time to be involved with records management and we have a very efficient information technology staff to work with."

She said that if elected, her goal will be to make all public information in her office more accessible to the public.